At my installation as Chancellor of Queen’s in 2021, I told the audience that peace is a process, not an event. That is why, on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, we can celebrate this significant milestone with a sense of accomplishment and hope.

Children today enjoy a safety and security that those who lived through previous decades could only dream of. The longevity of the Agreement remains a triumph of diplomacy, and a testament to democracy’s power to transcend divisions and deliver peace.

The world needs Northern Ireland to remain a beacon of hope, now more than ever. Because there is still work to be done resolving divisions and conflicts between peoples and countries around the world. And, for many people, including in Northern Ireland, there is still a struggle for progress and prosperity on a personal level. Poverty and unemployment, access to education, unresolved legacy issues and the trauma of intergenerational conflict still have a grip on too many communities. So along with celebration, this is also a moment to acknowledge continued injustice and suffering, and to recognise the sacrifices made by victims and survivors as the process of peace continues.

It is also a moment to remember those no longer with us – such as the formidable John and Pat Hume, David Trimble, Mo Mowlam and other colleagues who worked so hard to deliver the Good Friday Agreement to the people of Northern Ireland. And others like Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness who worked to implement the Agreement.

Let these moments strengthen our resolve to dig deep into the ground we have gained, to commit to finishing the journey. Through difficult times, Queen’s has been – and continues to be – a shining light that puts NI on a world stage in so many areas of research, innovation and impact. Queen’s not only contributes significantly to the local economy, but it offers itself as a place where conversation, debate and dialogue are actively encouraged. For the young people who study here, these opportunities to share with those from different communities and of different beliefs can be transformational.

In my installation speech, I quoted my friend and poet Seamus Heaney. As I write this, I am thrilled that the University is fundraising to ensure his legacy continues, through the creation of a wonderful new physical home for the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s. It will be a place where generations of bright young poets, writers, critics and literary minds can be inspired.

Supporting young people’s creativity gives the next generation a voice to make their own change. And let me tell you, they are ready to be heard. The young people I have met at Queen’s fill me with hope for Northern Ireland’s future, and a better future around the world. I applaud everyone who has never stopped believing in non-violent paths to a peaceful, shared life for all the communities and traditions that reside here. I wish you all a prosperous future, and I look forward to the day when, as Mr Heaney wrote, ‘hope’ and ‘history’ rhyme. We may not have achieved that in its entirety yet, but after 25 years, hope and history sit very comfortably beside each other on this page.